Awards Through the Local Government Efficiency Grant Program Will Fund Seven Projects Across the State to Streamline Operations and Further Protect Taxpayers
FY 2024 Executive Budget Includes $3.9 Million for Local Government Efficiency Grants
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $2,884,500 in grant funding is being awarded to counties and municipalities across the state to fund seven projects that reduce government costs through consolidations, shared services or internal efficiencies. As part of the annual competitive Local Government Efficiency Grant program, five of the awards will offset costs associated with implementation, while the remaining two awards will help with planning projects. The FY 2024 Executive Budget continues to deliver core local government aid, including $3.9 million for competitive Local Government Efficiency Grants.
"Having served in local government for over a decade, I know what localities need to reduce costs and get projects over the finish line," Governor Hochul said. "These grants will help streamline local government projects and services - better serving New Yorkers by staying lean and efficient, while creating more prosperous communities across the state for years to come."
New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, "Our Local Government Efficiency Grant program is a useful tool for New York's counties and municipalities that are looking for assistance in getting responsible, money-saving measures to - and across - the finish line. This critical funding will help our partners implement key projects that create efficiencies and streamline operations in their communities, in turn saving taxpayer dollars."
The awarded projects include:
- Washington County - Shared Highway Facility - $400,000
Washington County and the Town of Fort Ann will undertake a $10,140,980 project to construct a shared Department of Public Works outpost barn to replace two adjacent county and town barns. The new, state-of-the-art facility will allow for better delivery of services, shared equipment and consolidated buildings that lower administrative expenses.
- Town of Darien - Regional Wastewater Treatment - $600,000
The town will construct a new force main and pump station allowing it to discharge waste into the Corfu/Pembroke Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant. The $4,781,000 project will reduce long-term operation and maintenance costs for involved partners.
- Ontario County - Multi-Municipal E-Contract Management System - $990,000
This $1,100,000 project will transition 23 municipal entities to a single, cloud-based electronic contract management system. The streamlining measure will allow for future collaboration and provide standardization among municipalities, vendors and insurance carriers.
- Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority - Shared Infrastructure Maintenance - $650,000
The Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority will purchase the vacuum truck, making it available for use by member communities who enter an intermunicipal agreement with the authority. The truck will improve operations within municipal water, sewer and stormwater systems.
- Town of Elma - Elma Meadows Wastewater Treatment Plan Consolidation - $400,000
This project is an $5,400,000 effort between the Town of Elma and the Iroquois Central School District to update and consolidate two existing wastewater treatment plants. The project includes the construction of a consolidated plant at the existing location of the high school's wastewater treatment plant.
- Town of Leicester - Fire and EMS Services Study - $19,500
The Town and Village of Leicester will complete an evaluation of the level and types of fire and EMS services currently provided under contract by Leicester Fire Department and the Cuylerville Fire Department. This will support a feasibility analysis of the potential alternatives for services including the merger of the two fire departments and the possible creation of a joint fire district.
- Cazenovia Central School District - Shared Highway Garage and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure - $25,000
Cazenovia Central School District, the Towns of Nelson and Cazenovia and the Village of Cazenovia will undertake a $50,000 study to investigate opportunities to consolidate bus & highway garage infrastructure and resources. Additionally, the study will examine the feasibility of shared electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The seven awards were selected among 20 applicants for the 2022 LGEG funding. Applications were submitted through the state's Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process and subsequently graded on various criteria including, but not limited to:
- return on investment to taxpayers
- project scale
- scope
- municipal readiness
- public engagement
- work plan
- budget detail
Additionally, pursuant to the LGEG guidance, applications must include at least two eligible local government entities.
LGEG grant applications may fall into two categories - implementation grants or planning grants. Implementation grants may award municipalities with up to $200,000 for each involved municipality, with a maximum cumulative grant award of up to $1,000,000. For implementation grants, the local minimum match is 10%. For planning grants, awards may be granted up to $12,500 for each participating municipality with maximum project costs not exceeding $100,000. For these grants, the minimum required local match is $50,000 of project planning costs.
The LGEG grant program is just one of the grant programs administered by the Division of Local Government Services within the Department of State. The Division provides technical assistance and competitive grants to local governments. For more information on LGEG or any programs administered by the Division, please contact [email protected] or call 518 473-3355.